WEYBURN – Two representatives of a local committee spoke to Weyburn city council on Tuesday evening to ask them to approve holding a treaty recognition ceremony, for the City to formally acknowledge Treaty 4.
Doug Loden of the Weyburn Rotary Club spoke, along with committee member Raquel Oberkirsch, who is an educator on First Nations issues with the Southeast Cornerstone School Division.
Loden noted that the request arises after a presentation was made about the treaty recognition ceremony held in Estevan just before COVID hit, and he spoke of the importance of holding such a ceremony.
The committee is proposing to have the ceremony around Sept. 26 or 27, with the Legion Hall tentatively booked for a lunch following the ceremony.
“The ceremony would be led by Chief Connie Big Eagle of Ocean Man First Nation,” said Loden, noting there would be a smudge ceremony and a drummer, with the sacred ceremony led by Chief Big Eagle, and possibly around 100 guests. There would also be representatives from White Bear and Pheasant Rump First Nations.
“The most important player would you, city council,” he added, asking that the council will say yes to hosting the ceremony, and to have one or two councillors join the committee organizing this event.
He said the treaty recognition ceremony is an act of reconciliation as it would be healing, and would give courage and strength.
“It’s a teaching tool for our children, and an opportunity for the Opportunity City. Indigenous businesses are the fastest growing sector of the economy, and indigenous people are 36 per cent of the population under 19,” said Loden, pointing out this would be a good opportunity for some of those businesses to come to Weyburn.
Oberkirsch noted while she works for the school division coordinating First Nations learning and programs, she is on the committee and appeared before council as an individual who believes in the importance of having such a ceremony.
She said she grew up close to where Treaty 4 was signed, but she didn’t know anything about it until she was in university.
Many of the students she speaks to know what Treaty 4 is all about and the unfulfilled promises that were in it, and suggested it would be very meaningful to have the Treaty 4 flag fly at City Hall year round.
“I think there is a misunderstanding that only First Nations people are a part of the treaty, but that’s not the case. We are all treaty people, both indigenous and non-indigenous, and we are all part of the treaty in Saskatchewan,” she said, adding that holding the ceremony would be to recognize the importance of building relationships.
“It’s an opportunity for us to learn about Treaty 4, treaty rights and First Nations culture,” said Oberkirsch. “We all benefit from the treaty, because it allows us to live and work here on this land.”
She added this would be a great opportunity to educate the whole community and show the city’s commitment to reconciliation.
Mayor Marcel Roy said there may be a conflict with the proposed date, as both he and Coun. Ryan Janke are planning to be away at that time. He added that council will get back to the committee about the request for the ceremony.
